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Science News for March 31, 2006


Combined treatment cuts inflammatory cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A randomized study of 140 COPD patients found that a combination therapy significantly reduced inflammatory cells and improved lung function. The treatment, salmeterol/fluticasone propionate, decreased inflammation by 36% and showed improvements in lung function similar to other anti-inflammatory treatments.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateMar 31, 2006

Jackson Laboratory joins National Centers for Systems Biology

The Jackson center aims to understand how genes interact to develop healthy individuals or lead to diseases, leveraging the power of the mouse model. Collaborators will use computational approaches to identify clusters of genes associated with complex diseases, shedding light on their evolution and causes.

SourceJackson Laboratory·DateMar 31, 2006
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Major obesity gene is 'lost in the shuffle'

Researchers have discovered a 100-kilobase segment of DNA missing from the agouti signaling protein (ASIP) gene in gibbons. The ASIP gene plays a role in lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis, but its deletion may have helped gibbons adapt to arboreal niches. Future studies will examine the physiological effects of this deletion.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenome Research·DateMar 31, 2006

AGU journal highlights - 31 March 2006

Research papers predict increased solar flares and storms due to enhanced solar radiation. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is expected to strengthen with climate change induced by increasing greenhouse gases. Deep atmospheric convection enhances natural greenhouse gas feedbacks, leading to an amplified positive water vapor effect.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMar 31, 2006

2006 Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) awards announced

The Human Frontier Science Program awarded Young Investigator grants to 29 young scientists from 12 countries, with a focus on interdisciplinary research. The program also provided postdoctoral fellowships and Career Development Awards to support talented young scientists in setting up their independent laboratories.

SourceHuman Frontier Science Program·DateMar 31, 2006
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Homeoprotein DNA-binding specificity

Researchers investigated how homeoproteins interact with DNA to determine their binding specificity. The findings reveal new insights into the mechanisms underlying these interactions.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateMar 31, 2006

Scent of fear impacts cognitive performance

A Rice University study found that women exposed to chemicals from fear-induced sweat performed more accurately on word-association tasks than those in neutral or no-sweat conditions. This suggests that human olfaction can detect chemical signals from fear, leading to more cautious behavior and improved accuracy.

SourceRice University·JournalChemical Senses·DateMar 31, 2006
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

'March Madness' effects observed in ultracold gases

Physicists simulated gases in optical lattices to study the behavior of electrons in materials. They found that electron blocking occurs even when the lattice would normally be a good conductor, and interference effects form natural fractal patterns.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·DateMar 31, 2006

Cancer virus protein needed for successful infection

Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered that a cancer virus protein is necessary for the virus to successfully infect and reproduce in the body. The protein, p13, plays a critical role in the early phase of infection, and its function could be targeted by new drugs or vaccines.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Virology·DateMar 31, 2006